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  • assistants-stories
  1. Home
  2. Assistants' stories

Assistants' stories

Featured below are a number of reflections from assistants living in L'Arche communities across the UK. For more information about becoming an assistant yourself, please follow this link.

"I feel really looked after and supported"

Watch Dom describe the small acts of kindness shown by people with and without learning disabilities who gave his family love and support after the birth of his son. Read more

Published: 11th April, 2022

Updated: 2nd May, 2022

Author: Monika Uboreviciute

Diary of a new assistant: Monika

Diary of a new assistant: Monika

Monika joined L'Arche Edinburgh in June, during the first Scottish lockdown. Here, she journals her first few months as a new assistant in community. Read more

Published: 8th October, 2020

Updated: 15th October, 2020

Author: Cate Green

Mark and Ben: A lockdown conversation

Mark and Ben: A lockdown conversation

Mark and Ben from L'Arche Kent discuss what brought them both to L'Arche, and how lockdown has been for them. Read more

Published: 19th September, 2020

Updated: 22nd September, 2020

Author: Cate Green

The other side of the world: A year in the Highlands with L'Arche

The other side of the world: A year in the Highlands with L'Arche

Travelling across continents to Inverness to live and work in L'Arche is a brave decision for anyone. Here, two assistants discuss taking that big leap, and the boundless rewards of their experience. Read more

Published: 30th August, 2020

Author: Cate Green

From indifference to acceptance: Alban's story

From indifference to acceptance: Alban's story

When Alban arrived at L'Arche in 2014, he wasn't immediately sold. That didn't last long. Here he discusses how his experience pulled him out of a spiritual rut and prepared him for many more adventures. Read more

Published: 22nd August, 2020

Updated: 25th August, 2020

Author: Cate Green

Lockdown letters: A rollercoaster first year at L'Arche

Lockdown letters: A rollercoaster first year at L'Arche

Leaving home to live in community with people with and without learning disabilities is a scary move for anyone. Add a global pandemic to the equation, and it’s surely terrifying. Here, Ellie and Dominic tell us about a first year they could never have anticipated. Read more

Published: 18th August, 2020

Updated: 18th January, 2022

Author: Cate Green

"Our friendship is not on hold, it is lived in a different way"

Max and Stacey's friendship has spanned across two decades, and Covid-19 was never going to stand in between them. Stacey, from L'Arche Liverpool, discusses here the unrelenting loyalty that has endured and adapted to the global pandemic. Read more

Published: 16th June, 2020

Updated: 22nd September, 2021

Author: Cate Green

Love in the time of Covid

Love in the time of Covid

Across the world Covid-19 is changing the ways we are having to do so many things. Nem, a member of L'Arche Manchester, reflects on what life during Covid-19 is teaching her and how her Community is showing up. Read more

Published: 28th May, 2020

Updated: 21st August, 2020

Author: Jarek Maciejowski

James' story

James' story

'You can’t make things perfect here. Instead you learn to use the imperfect things as gifts.’ Read more

Published: 15th August, 2019

Updated: 21st August, 2020

Author: Joe Revell

'The importance of being known': Louise's story

'The importance of being known': Louise's story

When she was 21, Louise left her job and lived for a year as part of the L’Arche community in Ipswich. Here she found something remarkable in a community ‘where people can love well, and disagree well, and live together well’. Read more

Published: 4th July, 2019

Updated: 21st August, 2020

Author: Joe Revell

Meaningful and mutual relationships: how I found L'Arche

Meaningful and mutual relationships: how I found L'Arche

Matthew spent his final year of college living with people with learning disabilities. It was the meaningful, mutual relationships that he developed with his roommates that led him to discover L’Arche. Read more

Published: 13th June, 2019

Updated: 21st August, 2020

Author: Joe Revell

The exceptional and the ordinary: reflections on living L’Arche.

The exceptional and the ordinary: reflections on living L’Arche.

Reflections on living at L'Arche Kent, by Marilyn Hull Read more

Published: 23rd May, 2019

Updated: 21st August, 2020

Author: Joe Revell

Emilia: Reflections on my gap year in L'Arche

Emilia: Reflections on my gap year in L'Arche

Emilia came to L’Arche Ipswich from Germany on her gap year. Before leaving the Community to study teaching, Emilia reflects on her growth as part of the Community. Read more

Published: 26th April, 2019

Updated: 21st August, 2020

Author: Joe Revell

Bipana's story

Bipana's story

'L’Arche is different from anywhere else. We are so connected with each other.' Read more

Published: 7th March, 2019

Updated: 21st August, 2020

Author: Joe Revell

Cyril's story

Cyril's story

'It wasn’t until I lived here that I was fully able to understand what people with learning disabilities have to offer. They make the people around them grow.' Read more

Published: 19th November, 2018

Updated: 21st August, 2020

Author: Joe Revell

Moses' story

Moses' story

'I think L'Arche offers the world love. It shows the world how to be respectful towards people with learning disabilities and how to value every person'. Read more

Published: 8th August, 2018

Updated: 21st August, 2020

Author: Joe Revell

Volunteering with L'Arche Ipswich: Christelle's story

Volunteering with L'Arche Ipswich: Christelle's story

Christelle is a volunteer in the L’Arche Ipswich community. In this piece she reflects on how celebrating her birthday in the community brought her to a deeper understanding of L’Arche. Read more

Published: 12th June, 2018

Updated: 21st August, 2020

Author: Joe Revell

Tom's story

Tom's story

'L’Arche houses are brilliantly eclectic and that is a large part of what makes working in them so much fun.' Read more

Published: 3rd April, 2018

Updated: 18th January, 2022

Author: Joe Revell

Amy's story

Amy's story

'Living in L’Arche is like holding a mirror up to yourself and seeing the very best and sometimes the very worst of yourself reflected back.' Read more

Published: 28th March, 2018

Updated: 18th January, 2022

Author: Joe Revell

Ismayil's story

Ismayil's story

‘I think L’Arche is one of those places where you can change the world, and changing the world starts with changing yourself.’ Read more

Published: 8th March, 2018

Updated: 18th January, 2022

Author: Joe Revell

Laura's Gift to Amy

Laura's Gift to Amy

Amy is an assistant at the L'Arche Community in Manchester. Here her relationship with Laura, a core member in the community, has taught her about joy and wholeheartedness. Read more

Published: 10th December, 2017

Updated: 21st August, 2020

Author:

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Showing 10 of 21

Latest

  • Recruiter, L'Arche Kent

    Recruiter, L'Arche Kent

    L'Arche Kent is looking for a Recruiter to work 24h per week with an hourly salary of £12.26. Closing date for the applications is 17th July.

  • Supporting accessibility at Big Church Festival

    Supporting accessibility at Big Church Festival

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    Together with his team, Richard published a paper which explores the advantages of hiring people with learning disabilities and to what extent university's recruitment procedures are accessible to those with learning disabilities.

  • Prizes up for grabs!

    Prizes up for grabs!

    If you need an extra incentive to fundraise for us, we have a load of goody bags full of L'Arche treats to give away. Check them out!

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  • International Applicants

    International Applicants

    The Youth Mobility Scheme is an option to consider for anyone who wishes to travel to the UK to work for L'Arche. If you are not eligible for this visa, you can apply for the Tier 5 Temporary Charity Worker visa. Read here for more information and to find out if you're eligible.

  • Live-In Assistants at L'Arche

    Live-In Assistants at L'Arche

    Life as a live-in assistant at L'Arche is so much more than a care role. It's an experience that will shape you through life in an intentional community of people with and without learning disabilities. Apply today and start your journey of a lifetime.

  • L'Arche needs you!

    L'Arche needs you!

    Do you like fixing furniture? Baking? Playing games? Gardening? L'Arche is a place where you can bring any skill or passion you have and share it in a community setting. Make a difference by volunteering at L'Arche!

  • L'Arche in the UK

    L'Arche in the UK

    Each of the 11 Communities celebrate people with learning disability and foster circles of support around them, focusing on building relationships and creating a culture of belonging.

  • Support Worker, L'Arche Preston

    Support Worker, L'Arche Preston

    Full-time and part-time permanent positions available with hours varying between 25 to 40 per week. Starting salary £10.00 per hour.

  • Applicants from the UK

    Applicants from the UK

  • What happens next with my application?

    What happens next with my application?

  • Care Assistant, L'Arche Ipswich

    Care Assistant, L'Arche Ipswich

    Join a values-led organisation and make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society in the face of the global pandemic, learn transferable skills and participate in an integrated training and personal development programme.

  • Support Worker (Support Assistant), L'Arche Kent

    Support Worker (Support Assistant), L'Arche Kent

    Join a values-led organisation and make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society in the face of the global pandemic, learn transferable skills and participate in an integrated training and personal development programme.

  • Live-in assistants

    Live-in assistants

    L'Arche live-in assistants live and work in our Communities with and alongside people with learning disabilities. They provide them care and support. Apply here.

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L'Arche is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, No. 1055041.
L'Arche is registered as a charity in England and Wales, No. 264166, and in Scotland, No. SC038493.
Registered Office: 10 Briggate, Silsden, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD20 9JT